Chapter-4 Wave motion

What is a wave?
A wave is:
 an energy-transferring
disturbance
moves through a material
medium or a vacuum
Categories of Waves
Mechanical – require a
material medium
Medium – state of matter (solid,
liquid, gas, plasma)
Electromagnetic – can move
through empty space (vacuum)
Types of Waves
In a transverse wave, the
displacement of the particles
of the medium is
perpendicular to the
direction of wave motion.
Types of Waves
Transverse Wave
Types of Waves
In a longitudinal wave,
the displacement of the
particles of the medium is
parallel to the direction of
wave motion.
Types of Waves
Longitudinal Transverse
l

compression
rarefaction
Wave Characteristics
frequency ( f )
period ( T )
amplitude (A)
phase
wavelength (l)
speed ( v )
Wave Characteristics
The frequency (f) of a
wave is the number of
complete vibrations
(cycles) per unit of time.
1 cycle per second = 1 hertz (Hz)
Wave Characteristics
The period (T) of a wave is the
time for the completion of a
cycle. Measured in seconds.
1
T 
f
Wave Characteristics
 The amplitude (A) of a wave is the maximum
displacement of the particles in a medium from
equilibrium. (“height from rest to crest”)
 related to the energy in the wave.
 Higher amplitude =
 more energy
 higher frequency
 shorter wavelength
Wave Characteristics
The phase of a wave
describes the position
and direction of any
particle in a wave-
carrying medium.
Wave Characteristics
Wave Characteristics
The wavelength (l) of a
wave measures the
distance between any two
consecutive points in-
phase.
Wave Characteristics
The speed (v) of a wave
depends on the properties of
the medium through which it is
traveling.
v=d=l =lf
t T
 Electromagnetic Spectrum
f
f
l l
Wave Properties
The direction of propagation of
the advancing wave is
perpendicular to the wave
front. This is due the wave
property of rectilinear
propagation.
Wave Properties
fixed end free end
Wave Properties
When wave encounters a
boundary between two media of
different propagation speed,
some wave energy can be turned
back. This is called the wave
reflection.
Wave Properties
incident reflected
wave wave
Refraction - the bending of a
wave caused by a change in
speed as the wave moves
from one medium to another.
Wave Properties
When a wave passes
through an opening in a
barrier, the wave energy will
spread out beyond the
barrier. This is called the
wave diffraction.
Wave Properties
Principle of Superposition - When
two waves traveling independently
through the same medium, the
resultant displacement of any
particle at a given time is the vector
sum of the displacements that the
individual waves acting alone would
give it.
Wave Properties
When two wave pulses
encounter each other in a
medium, the wave pulses will
superpose beyond the barrier.
This is called the wave
interference.
Wave Properties
Constructive
Interference
Wave Properties
Destructive
Interference
Standing Waves
A standing wave is the result of
two waves of the same frequency
and amplitude traveling in the
opposite directions through the
same medium.
Standing Waves
A point of no disturbance in a
standing wave is called a node.
A point in standing wave where the
amplitude is maximum is called an
antinode.
Standing Waves
The fundamental frequency (or
natural frequency) of a medium
occurs when it vibrates with the
simplest standing wave – 2 nodes + 1
antinode.